Automatic pump for pneumatic tires.



VPaltwcmced Dec. |902.

c. s. LANGTUN.

AUTOMATIC PUMP FDF? PNEUMATIC TIRES: l

(No Modeh) to provide asimple,

4viceapplicable to the wheel-rim of a bicycle matic Tires, of which UNrrED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES S. LANGTON, OF PARKERSBURG, .T Tfl'llNOIS.

AUTOMATIC PUMPE-OR PNEUMAT'IC TIRES.

SPECIFICTION forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 715,094, 4dated December 2, 1902.

application filed December 2B, 1901. Serial No. 87,206.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES S. LANGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkersburg, in the county of Richland and State ofv Illinois, have invented new and useful-Improvements in Automatic Pumps for Pneuthe following is a specication. Y This invention relates to automatic pumps forpneumatic tires, the object in view being reliable, and eiiicient deor other foot-propelled vehicle or automobile for the pnrpose'of automatically inating and regulating the ination of the tires in connecv tion with which the device is employed.

One of the objects of the invention is to so arrange theoperative parts ofthe pump that advantage may he taken of the spreading action of a partially-inated tire to operate the pump. o

Another object of the invention is to provide againstbreakage or'injury of the parts which are acted upon by the tire as it is compressed.

`Another object is to construct the device as a whole in such manner that it is applicable to any wheel-rim, is self acting and regulating, and. may be adjusted to produce any dcsired degree of inflation. The device is not connected with or related to any other operative part of the bicycle, automobile, or other machine, and therefore 'when the tire has been fully inflated the infiating device is automat ically thrown out of operatiomthus saving unnecessary wear onthe 'operative parts of the pump. Y. f l i Vth the above and other cbjects'in view the invention consists in thje novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fdlly described, illustrated, and

claimed.

` In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a sideelevatipnv of a portion of a wheel-rim and pneumatic tire, showingthe lautomatic pump applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross-seoton throng the same. Fig. 3 is also a crossfsetion showing a modified arrangement of pump connections, and Fig. 4 is also'a crosssectional View illustrating another modification in the forni andarrangeinentof the pu mpoperating mechanism.

Similarnumerals of reference designate cor responding parts in all the figures of the drawings. I

In carrying out the present invention advantage is taken of the lateral spreading action of a partially-inflated pneumatic tire at the point of impact or at the lowest portion ofthe wheel where the tire touches the ground, the said spreading of the tire serving to operate an air-pump by means of suitable connections aud the pump being placed'in communication with `an infiating-valve of any usual or preferred construction. communicating with the interior of the tire to be inflated.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a pneumatic tire of any ordinary description; 2, the Wheel-rimupon which the tire is placed, and 3 the valve-tube which communicates with the interior of the tire and contains the self -actin g check-valve. Attached to the valve-tube 3 is a tubular connection 4, which may be either rigid or flexible, as occasion may require, said connection extending directly to the discharge l.end of an air-pump, 5 designating the pump-cylinder, 6 the piston, mounted tb reciprocate therein, and 7 the pump-plunger which acts with the piston. Under the arrangement illustrated in Fig. l, the pump is mounted on a bracket 8, which is connected to a wheel-rim at 9, the pump being small and located between adjoining spokes. Asa means for operating the pumppiston I employ a pair of operating-levers 10, each of which is fulcruined at 11 on a bracket i2, secured in any convenient manner to the rimat or ucar the edge thereof. Each of the levers is extended below its fulcrum, Where it is provided with a broad shoe 13, said shoe being preferably thin and elastic and of a 'normal curvature corresponding with the outer surface of the tire l. Each shoe extends partially beneath the tire, the, lower edge thereof curving inwardly, and in view of the fact that said shoe is capable of spring? ing or yielding it is allowed to give under irnpact with a stone or other hard obstacle, thus preventing injury to or fracture of said shoe. Links 14 are interposed between the upper ends of the levers l0 and the piston of the pump, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and other links or rods 15. are interposed between said levers and a point on the rim at the opposite ICO side er 'said levers een nie pump. The links Maud form, in eiect, toggle arms or memb`ers,lso that as the upper ends of the levers v faro-moved inward the linksle are caused to valve-tube 3 into the tire. stood that the 'shoes 13 are moved outward away from each other by reason of the action' of the tire vagainst said shoes when the tire is partially dattened and caused to spread lat- Aas iss

erally at the point of impact with the ground.

In a construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the pump is shown as arranged horizontally. In Fig. 3 the pump-cylinder is provided with. longitudinally-arranged. parallel flanges 15, providing longitudinal grooves 15", and ar-4 ranged vertically, or rather radially, with respect to the wheehrim, with the discharge end of the cylinder toward the rim.

In order to operate the plunger 7, 1 provide an inverted-U-shaped slideelink, 16, adapted to slide in the grooves 15b, and to the ends of which are pivotally connectedlinks 17, each connected pivotally atsits opposite ends to the upper extremities of the levers 10. The

cross-head 1S of the slide-link connects centrally with t-he upper end of the plunger 7. By reason of the inclination of the links 17 as the upperlextremities of the levers 10 are moved inward said links 17 serve to force the slide-link 16 and cross-head 18 downward, thereby operating theplunger, with the result above stated. Another arrangement is illustrated in Fig. l, wherein the discharge end of the cylinder is disposed away from the rim or toward the center of the wheel. ln this case itis necessary to provide for an upstroke of the plunger 7, which is accomplished by making the levers `l0 somewhat longer and pivotally connecting them at'their upper ends only, as shown at 19, some, suitable provision in the form of a bracket being made for carrying or supporting the fulcrum pin 19. Links 20 connect pivotally at one end with the levers 10 andv at their opposite or inner`` ends With the lower extremity of thel plunger 7. Therefore, asl the shoes 13 are 'moved outward laterallythe levers 10 are correspondingly spread apart, and 7this movement serves through the medium of the inclined links 10,

which are vin eect toggle-arms,;to thrust the plunger 7 upward and force air through the 4tubular connection 4 into the tire.

From the foregoing' description it `will be understood that it' the tire is at all-soft or. parv tially deflated it will spread at the point of impact with the ground and operatenpon the understood that the device is seli regulating.

and governing, being thrown into action as of construction soon as the tire re'softens and being `throw-u out of action as soon as the requisite degree of iniiation is obtained. f By properly adjust ing the links and other connections the pressure may be maintained at any desired degrec of in'ation.

-l do ,not desire to be limited to the details hereinabove described, and accordingly reserve the right to change, modify, or vary the construction within the 'scope ofthe appended fclaim's'.

Having thus described the'inveniion, what I' claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a wheel having a pneumatic .tire mounted thereon, of a pump for inilating the tire, a U-shaped slide-linir I having the pump-piston connectedtherewith, levers adapted to be operated by' the tire, and means vconnecting the levers and slide-link:v whereby the pump-piston" may be reciprocated.

2. The combination with awheel, having a pneumatic tire mounted thereon, of a pump for iniating the tire, a'pair of toggle-links connected to the pumppiston and wheel-rim, and a pair of levers fulcrumed upon the wheel-rim, and having their upper ends connected to the toggle-links, th'e lowerendsoi:I

said levers terminating in enlarged resilient shoes arranged on. either side of the, tire.

3. The combination witha wheel having a pneumatic tire mounted thereon, of a .pump

for iniating the tire, a U-shaped slide-link having the pump-piston connected therewith, levers fulcrnmed upon oppoeitesides of .the wheel-rim and adapted to lie in engagement with thetire, and links connecting the levers andslido-link.

4. The combination with a wheehhaviug a pneu matic tire mounted thereon, a. pump having laterally-projecting dangesproviding longitudinal grooves, an inverted- U shaped slide-link havingtne pump-piston secured thereto, and adapted to work-in said grooves,

and means for operating theslide-link'. 'Y

5. The combination' with a wheel, having a pneumatic tire mounted thereon, of a pump having laterally-projecting lflanges providing longitudinal grooves, an inverted-U-shaped slide-link having the pump-iiston secured thereto, and adapted to work i saidgro'oves, levers fulcrumed upon oppositesides of the wheel-rim and having their 'lower ends terminating in enlagedresilientshocs adapted to lie in engagementwith the tire, and links connecting the slide-link andthe levers.

'In testimony whereof- I agfmy signature in presence o'ftwo witnessesigf? V lcunnnss/s.ilAndreu' iii'itnesses:K FRANK-D. GEKRK, Amos JOHNSON. 

